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The Bexar County Veterans Service Office is an advocate agency established to assist veterans and/or their survivors in obtaining entitled benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the State of Texas. The office cooperates with local government agencies as well as non-government service agencies to assist clients in obtaining needed specialized services. Our office is located at 233 N. Pecos, Suite 540, San Antonio, TX 78207. The telephone number is (210) 335-6737. The office e-mail address is vets@bexar.org.
Our purpose is to help veterans and their survivors deal with the often confusing and overwhelming task of completing the correct forms and applications and collecting the appropriate documentation to support a claim for benefits. We also assist clients in identifying and accessing the appropriate local resources to address their immediate and long term needs. Claimants who prepare the claim themselves are welcome to submit their applications to us for review and comment prior to submitting to the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA).
BENEFIT PROGRAMS
There are a number of benefit programs to which veterans and their survivors are entitled. Following is a brief description of a number of these programs and instructions for applying for benefits. For additional information concerning these and other benefits and programs, you may call the County Veterans Services Office at (210) 335-6737 between 8 AM and 5 PM, M - F.
For additional information concerning federal veterans' benefits you may also contact the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) directly by calling the DVA toll free number,
1-800-827-1000 or by accessing the DVA web at http://www.va.gov .
Additional information concerning State of Texas veterans' benefits may be found by calling the toll free Texas Veterans Hot Line at 1-800-252-8387 or by accessing the Texas Veterans Commission web site at http://www.tvc.state.tx.us. There is also a new Texas Veterans on-line website at http://veterans.texasonline.com that includes information on both federal and state veteran benefits.
SAFEGUARD YOUR DD-214!!!
Virtually all Veterans Benefits are derived through the Veterans Discharge Certificate, DD-214 (or equivalent document). It is extremely important that this document be safeguarded. One way to do this is to record it with the County Clerk of the County in which you reside. In Texas, there is no charge for recording military discharges. When you file the document you will be given a certified copy by the Clerk's Office for your immediate use. If, at a later time, another copy of the DD-214 is needed, you need only contact that County Clerk's office to get additional copies of the recorded document.
If your DD-214 has been lost or destroyed and you did not register it with a County Clerk's Office, you will most likely have to request the document from your military personnel records maintained by the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, MO. For additional information concerning this process, contact our office or visit their web site at http://www.archives.gov (click on "research room" and then "veterans service records")
SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITY COMPENSATION
This is the primary source of entitlements for those veterans who suffer a chronic disability resulting directly or indirectly from an injury or illness that originated while on ACTIVE DUTY with the U.S. Armed Forces.
NON-SERVICE CONNECTED (NSC) PENSION
The NSC Pension is a "needs based" program aimed at providing assistance to low income veterans who are permanently and totally disabled and who served during a wartime period recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
DEPENDENCY INDEMNITY COMPENSATION (DIC)
DIC is a survivors benefit for the dependents of a veteran whose death was the result of a service-connected disability or who had been 100% disabled due to a service connected condition for 10 years or more at the time of death.
DEATH PENSION
The death pension is similar to the NSC pension in that it is a "needs based" program. It is designed to provide assistance to the survivors of veterans who served during a wartime period. However, the survivor need not be totally disabled. The survivor must have income from all sources below the Maximum Allowable Pension Rate (MAPR) and have a "limited" estate. The veteran must have received an other than dishonorable discharge and have served at least 90 days active military service with at least one day served during a wartime period.
BURIAL BENEFITS
The following individuals are eligible for burial in a National Cemetery. Any member of the US Armed Forces who died on active duty. Any veteran who entered active duty as an enlisted person before September 7, 1980, or as an officer before October 17, 1981, with at least one day of active duty, other than for training. Discharge/separation must have been under conditions other than dishonorable. Any veteran who entered active duty as an enlisted person after September 7, 1980, or an as officer after October 17, 1981, with 24 consecutive months of active duty other than for training. Discharge/separation must have been under conditions other than dishonorable. Members of the reserve components of the armed forces, the Army and Air National Guard, and the Reserve Officers Training Corps who die while on active duty for training, or who have 20 years of service creditable for retired pay. A 20 year letter is required. The spouse, widow/widower of an eligible active duty member or veteran. The minor children of an eligible active duty member or veteran (under 21 years of age or under 23 years of age if attending an approved educational institution). There is no charge for the plot, opening or closing of the grave, or the marker. Arrangements CANNOT be made in advance for burial in a National Cemetery. At the time of need, the funeral director should contact the National Cemetery Director's Office to arrange for services. The funeral director may also make arrangements for an appropriate Honor Guard for the veteran.
FORT SAM NATIONAL CEMETERY
There is a national cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. The cemetery is located at 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd., San Antonio, Texas 78209-6002. The phone number is (210) 820-3891. Burials are conducted Monday thru Friday, and not on weekends.
VA GUARANTEED HOME LOANS
The Department of Veterans Affairs offers home loan guarantees for eligible veterans that may result in lower interest rates and loan origination and closing costs. The veteran is required to submit a "Certificate of Eligibility" issued by the DVA to the lending institution to verify eligibility for the loan guarantee. Applications for Certificates of Eligibility may be picked up at our office or obtained from the local DVA Benefits Office at 5788 Eckhert Rd, San Antonio, TX 78240. For additional information you may call the toll free DVA number, 1-888-232-2571. For a complete discussion and information on the VA Home Loan program, you may also visit the DVA Home Loan Guaranty Services web site at http://www.homeloans.va.gov.
TEXAS VETERANS BENEFITS
Benefit programs are available to eligible veterans through the State of Texas. These additional benefits range from Ad Valorem tax exemptions for service connected disabled veterans, to reduced rate motor vehicle license, drivers license, and entry fees to state parks and recreational facilities, to education assistance at State funded institutions.
Information concerning Texas veterans programs is also available by visiting the Texas Veterans Commission web site at http://www.tvc.state.tx.us. Information concerning Texas Veterans land, purchases, home improvement, and housing purchase assistance is available through the Texas Veterans Land Board by calling 1-800-252-8387 or by accessing their web site at .http://www.texasveterans.com .
SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
There are many organizations within Bexar County formed to provide camaraderie and service to veterans and their families. These include the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and the Disabled American Veterans among others. You may find additional information including eligibility requirements and application procedures as well as post locations through links provided by the Texas Veterans Commission at http://www.tvc.state.tx.us. Most local organizations are also listed in the business pages or in the yellow pages (under Veterans & Military Organizations) of the phone book.
BEXAR COUNTY VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Veterans Advisory Committee serves as a linkage between veterans of Bexar County and Bexar County government. It provides assistance to the County´s Veterans Services Office to ensure that the office is meeting the needs of veterans. The Committee provides advice on program monitoring, education and assisting veterans in applying for benefits, protecting those benefits, and promoting veterans activities and initiatives in the community.
To be a member of the Bexar County Veterans Advisory Committee, candidates must have served on active duty and be a Bexar County resident. Vacancies on the Committee will be announced and interested individuals should apply through application to the Bexar County Courthouse, Commissioners Court, Attn: Appointments, 100 Dolorosa - 1st Floor, Room 1.20, San Antonio, TX 78205. Applications may be obtained at the Bexar County Courthouse, 1st Floor, Commissioners Court Suite, or from the County's website at www.bexar.org
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